Pen Needle Removal Device For A Drug Delivery Device

ABSTRACT

A removal device ( 121, 221 ) for removing and disposing of a pen needle ( 113, 213 ) connectable to a drug delivery device ( 111, 211 ) includes a body ( 123, 223 ) having a cavity ( 141, 241 ) for receiving the pen needle of the drug delivery device such that a patient end ( 116, 216 ) of a needle ( 115, 215 ) of the pen needle is covered by the body. An ejector ( 151, 251 ) is movably connected to the body ( 123, 223 ) for engaging the received pen needle ( 113, 213 ) and selectively ejecting the engaged pen needle from the body. The pen needle ( 113, 213 ) is securely retained within the removal device ( 121, 221 ) without exposing the needle ( 115, 215 ) of the pen needle until the pen needle ( 113, 213 ) can be properly disposed of, such as in a sharps container, thereby substantially preventing an accidental needle stick.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/266,623, filed Dec. 4, 2009,the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a device for removing a penneedle from a drug delivery device. More particularly, the presentinvention relates to a stand-alone device that removes a pen needle froma drug delivery device and ejects the removed pen needle for properdisposal thereof. Still more particularly, the present invention relatesto a pen cap that removes a pen needle from a drug delivery device andejects the removed pen needle for proper disposal thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Insulin and other injectable medications are commonly given with drugdelivery devices, such as a drug delivery pen, whereby a disposable penneedle is attached to facilitate drug container access and allow fluidegress from the container through the needle into the patient.

Drug delivery devices, such as the exemplary drug delivery pen 100 shownin FIGS. 1 and 2, typically comprise a dose knob/button 24, an outersleeve 13, and a cap 21. The dose knob/button 24 allows a user to setthe dosage of medication to be injected. The outer sleeve 13 is grippedby the user when injecting medication. The cap 21 is used by the user tosecurely hold the drug delivery pen 100 in a shirt pocket, purse orother suitable location and provide cover/protection from accidentalneedle injury.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the drug delivery pen 100 of FIG. 1. Thedose knob/button 24 has a dual purpose and is used both to set thedosage of the medication to be injected and to inject the dosedmedicament via the leadscrew 7 and stopper 15 through the medicamentcartridge 12, which is attached to the drug delivery pen through a lowerhousing 17. In standard drug delivery pens, the dosing and deliverymechanisms are all found within the outer sleeve 13 and are notdescribed in greater detail here as they are understood by thoseknowledgeable of the prior art. The distal movement of the plunger orstopper 15 within the medicament cartridge 12 causes medication to beforced into the needle 11 of the hub 20. The medicament cartridge 12 issealed by septum 16, which is punctured by a septum penetrating needlecannula 18 located within the hub 20. The hub 20 is preferably screwedonto the lower housing 17, although other attachment means can be used,such as attaching to the cartridge 12. To protect a user, or anyone whohandles the pen injection device 100, an outer cover 69, which attachesto the hub 20, covers the hub. An inner shield 59 covers the patientneedle 11 within the outer cover 69. The inner shield 59 can be securedto the hub 20 to cover the patient needle by any suitable means, such asan interference fit or a snap fit. The outer cover 69 and the innershield 59 are removed prior to use. The cap 21 fits snugly against outersleeve 13 to allow a user to securely carry the drug delivery pen 100.

The medicament cartridge 12 is typically a glass tube sealed at one endwith the septum 16 and sealed at the other end with the stopper 15. Theseptum 16 is pierceable by a septum penetrating cannula 18 in the hub20, but does not move with respect to the medicament cartridge 12. Thestopper 15 is axially displaceable within the medicament cartridge 12while maintaining a fluid tight seal.

An exploded perspective view of a pen needle 2 of an exemplary drugdelivery pen is shown in FIG. 3. The pen needle 2 includes the cover(outer shield) 69, an inner shield 59, a needle cannula 11, and a hub20. A proximal end 310 of the needle cannula 11 is inserted into acenter opening in the distal (patient) end 405 of the hub 20 until apredetermined length of the distal (patient) end 305 of the needlecannula 11 remains extended. The needle cannula 11 is secured by epoxyor adhesive in the distal end 405 of the hub 20 within the hubprotrusion 420.

To protect users from injury and the needle cannula 11 from beingdamaged, the inner shield 59 covers the exposed portion of the needlecannula 11. The open proximal end 210 of the inner shield 59 is placedover the exposed portion of the needle cannula 11. The open proximal end110 of the cover 69 envelops the inner shield 59, needle cannula 11, andhub 20.

The distal end 105 of the cover 69 is closed to prevent contaminationand damage to the inner components of the pen needle 2, and to preventinjury to anyone who may handle it prior to use. The proximal end 410 ofthe hub 20 is typically covered by a sanitary paper or foil cover orlabel (not shown) glued on an end 110 of the cover 69. The pen needle isthen ready for shipment to a user. When the user is ready to use the penneedle, the sanitary cover (not shown) is removed from the cover 69, thehub 20 is screwed onto a lower housing 17 of a standard pen 100 (FIGS. 1and 2), and the cover 69 and shield 59 are separately removed from thehub 20/cannula 11 subassembly by a pulling action. The distal end 205 ofthe inner shield 59 is closed to cover the distal end 305 of the needlecannula 11 after the cover 69 is removed to protect the user from anaccidental needle stick. The inner shield 59 is then removed to accessthe needle cannula 11.

Following an injection with a drug delivery pen 100, as shown in FIGS. 1and 2, the used pen needle, which includes the hub 20 and needle 11, or“sharps”, are unthreaded from the lower housing 17 and properly disposedof, such as in a sharps container. Used sharps may become contaminatedby body fluids and the like creating a hazard for anyone that may handlethem following their use. Sharps disposal containers store the disposedsharps and prevent unintentional contact with any object disposedtherein.

As noted above, removing a used pen needle from the drug delivery pen100 for proper disposal presents a safety risk because the used needle11 is exposed. Accordingly, a need exists for removing a used pen needlefrom a drug delivery pen that substantially reduces or eliminatesaccidental needle sticks.

Existing drug delivery pens are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,645,264 toMarsh et al., which issued on Jan. 12, 2010, and U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2007/0149924 to R. Marsh, which was published on Jun.28, 2007, the entire contents of both of which are hereby incorporatedby reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a removal deviceremoves a used pen needle from a drug delivery device without exposingthe needle.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, astand-alone removal device removes a used pen needle from a drugdelivery device without exposing the needle.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a removaldevice is disposed in a cap of a drug delivery device for removing aused pen needle from a drug delivery device without exposing the needle.

The foregoing objects are basically attained by providing a removaldevice for removing and disposing of a pen needle connectable to a drugdelivery device. The removal device includes a body having a cavity forreceiving the pen needle of the drug delivery device. A patient end of aneedle of the pen needle is covered by the body of the removal device.An ejector is movably connected to the body for engaging the receivedpen needle and selectively ejecting the engaged pen needle from thebody. The ejected pen needle can be properly disposed of in a sharpscontainer without exposing a needle of the pen needle, therebysubstantially preventing an accidental needle stick.

The foregoing objects are also attained by providing a method ofremoving a pen needle from a drug delivery device without exposing aneedle thereof. The pen needle of the drug delivery device is insertedin a cavity of a body of a removal device. A patient end of a needle ofthe pen needle is covered by the body of the removal device. Thereceived pen needle is engaged with an ejector movably connected to thebody. The drug delivery pen is removed from the body of the removaldevice such that the engaged pen needle is retained by the body. Theengaged pen needle is selectively ejected from the body with theejector. The ejected pen needle can be properly disposed of in a sharpscontainer without exposing a needle of the pen needle, therebysubstantially preventing an accidental needle stick.

Objects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description, which, taken inconjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodimentsof the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above benefits and other advantages of the various embodiments ofthe present invention will be more apparent from the following detaileddescription of exemplary embodiments of the present invention and fromthe accompanying drawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled drug delivery pen;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the drugdelivery pen of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a pen needle of the drugdelivery pen of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pen needle removal device according toa first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the pen needle removal device of FIG. 4about to receive a pen needle of a drug delivery device;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the pen needle removal device of FIG. 4receiving the pen needle of the drug delivery device;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view in cross-section of the pen needle removaldevice of FIG. 4 receiving the pen needle of the drug delivery device;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view in cross-section of the pen needle removaldevice of FIG. 4 retaining the pen needle after removing the drugdelivery device;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view in cross-section of the pen needle removaldevice of FIG. 4 ejecting the pen needle;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a pen needle removal device accordingto a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an elevational view in cross-section of the pen needleremoval device of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an elevational view of the pen needle removal device of FIG.10 in which a pen needle is connected to the drug delivery device;

FIG. 13 is an elevational view in cross-section of the pen needleremoval device of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged elevational view in cross-section of the penneedle removal device of FIG. 13 after removing a pen needle from thedrug delivery device; and

FIG. 15 is an elevational view in cross section of the pen needleremoval device ejecting a pen needle;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the ejector of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 17 is an enlarged elevational view of the ejector and cap of FIG.11.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numbers will be understood torefer to like parts, components and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 4-9, a removal device 121 for removing anddisposing of a pen needle 113 connectable to a drug delivery device 111,in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, includes a body 123 having a cavity 141 for receiving the penneedle of the drug delivery device such that a patient end 116 of aneedle 115 of the pen needle is covered by the body. An ejector 151 ismovably connected to the body 123 for engaging the received pen needle113 and selectively ejecting the engaged pen needle from the body. Theejected pen needle 113 can be properly disposed of in a sharps containerwithout exposing a needle 115 of the pen needle, thereby substantiallypreventing an accidental needle stick. While the following descriptionand details of exemplary embodiments of the present invention aregenerally disclosed with respect to a typical drug delivery device, suchas the drug delivery pen shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present inventioncan more broadly apply to a pen needle for use in conjunction with, orincorporated onto, other injection devices, such as syringes andinfusion devices. The assembly and operation of a typical drug deliverypen 100, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is described in U.S. Pat. No.7,465,264, issued on Jan. 12, 2010, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

As described above, the drug delivery pen 111 includes a lower housing117 to which a hub 120 of the pen needle 113 is threadably connected, asshown in FIG. 5. The pen needle 113 includes a needle 115 and a hub 120.A proximal end of the needle 115 is inserted into a center opening inthe distal (patient) end of the hub 120 until a predetermined length ofthe distal (patient) end 116 of the needle 115 remains extended. Theneedle 115 is secured by epoxy or adhesive in the distal end of the hub120 within the hub protrusion 118. A plurality of recesses 188 areformed in the outer surface of the hub 120, as shown in FIG. 5.

The pen needle removal device 121 includes a body 123, as shown in FIG.4. The body 123 includes an outer wall 131, an inwardly tapering wall133, and an inner wall 135, as shown in FIG. 7. The outer wall 131extends upwardly from a free end 125 to an upper edge 132. The free end125 of the outer wall 131 forms a base, thereby allowing the removaldevice 121 to sit flat on a surface to facilitate removing a pen needle113 from the drug delivery device 111. The inwardly tapering wall 133tapers inwardly from the upper edge 132 to an inner edge 134. The innerwall 135 extends toward the base from the inner edge 134. The inner wall135 preferably has a first portion 136 having a first diameter and asecond portion having a second diameter. The first portion 136 of theinner wall 135 extends from the inner edge 134. Inwardly extending ribs181 can be formed on an inner surface of the first portion 136 of theinner wall, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. An inwardly extending shoulder139 is formed at the end of the first portion 136, and the secondportion 138 extends toward the base from the shoulder 139. The firstdiameter is larger than the second diameter. A first opening 137 isformed in an end of the inner wall 135 to receive the ejector 151.Preferably, the body 123 of the removal device 121 is unitarily formedas a single piece. Although the removal device 121 is shown having aninwardly tapering wall to form a concave configuration, the removaldevice may be configured to be convex or planar. Preferably, the removaldevice 121 is made of plastic.

A cavity 141 is formed in the body 123 and is defined by the inwardlytapering wall 133 and the inner wall 135. The cavity 141 accommodates apen needle 113, as shown in FIG. 7. The first portion 136 of the innerwall 135 accommodates the hub 120 of the pen needle, as shown in FIGS. 6and 7. Preferably, an interference fit is formed between the firstportion 136 of the inner wall 135 and the pen needle hub 120. Theshoulder 139 is a stop to limit insertion of the drug delivery device111 by engaging a surface of the pen needle hub 120. The hub protrusion118 is received within the second portion 138 of the inner wall 135.

The ejector 151 has a flange 153 and a wall 155 extending therefrom.Feet 157 extend outwardly from the free end of the wall 155. The ejector151 extends through the opening 137, as shown in FIGS. 5-9. The feet 157prevent the ejector from being withdrawn past the shoulder 139 and theflange 153 prevents the ejector from being pushed through the firstopening 137. A second opening 129 is formed in the free end 125 of theouter wall 131 to provide access to the ejector 151. The flange 153facilitates selective manipulation of the ejector by the user.

To remove the pen needle 113 from the drug delivery device 111, such asafter the pen needle has been used to make an injection, the drugdelivery device is inserted in the cavity 141 of the removal device 121until the base surface 122 of the pen needle hub 120 abuts the shoulder139 of the removal device, as shown in FIG. 7. The base of the removaldevice 121 can be placed on a table to facilitate insertion of the drugdelivery device 111, thereby further preventing accidental needle sticksby not requiring the user to hold the removal device. The hub protrusion118 and needle 115 are disposed within the wall 155 of the ejector 151.An interference fit is created between the pen needle hub 120 and thesecond portion 136 of the inner wall 135 of the removal device 121,thereby securely retaining the pen needle 113 within the removal devicewhile the lower housing 117 of the drug delivery device 111 is rotatedand unthreaded from the pen needle 113, as shown in FIG. 8. The frictionbetween the hub 120 of the pen needle 113 and the second portion 136 ofthe inner wall 135 of the removal device 121 prevents movement of thepen needle as the drug delivery device 111 is unthreaded from theremoval device 121. Preferably, the diameter of the second portion 136is less than that of the pen needle hub 120 to create the interferencefit therebetween. The pen needle 113 is securely retained within theremoval device 121 with the patient end 116 of the needle 115 shieldedwithin the wall 155 of the ejector 151 such that the user can carry theremoval device 121 with the pen needle 113 disposed therein until thepen needle can be properly disposed of, such as in a sharps container.

Alternatively, the ribs 181 formed on the second portion 136 of theinner wall 135 of the removal device 121 engage the recesses 188 formedin the pen needle hub 120. Accordingly, the ribs 181 prevent rotation ofthe pen needle hub 120 such that the drug delivery device 111 can beunthreaded from the removal device 121 while securely retaining the penneedle 113 in the removal device.

When the pen needle 113 is to be ejected from the removal device 121,the user pushes the ejector flange 153 inwardly in a directionsubstantially opposite to the insertion direction of the drug deliverydevice, as shown in FIG. 9. The ejector 151 is moved in a directionsubstantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the needle 115. Thesecond portion 138 of the inner wall 135 guides movement of the ejectorwall 155 during ejection of the pen needle 113. The feet 157 engage thebase surface 122 of the hub 120, thereby overcoming the interference fitbetween the hub 120 and the second portion 136 of the inner wall 135such that the pen needle 113 can be properly disposed of.

In a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS.10-17, the removal device comprises a cap 221. As described above, thedrug delivery pen 221 includes a lower housing 217 to which a hub 220 ofthe pen needle 213 is threadably connected, as shown in FIG. 13. The penneedle 213 includes a needle 215 and a hub 220. A proximal end of theneedle 215 is inserted into a center opening in the distal (patient) endof the hub 220 until a predetermined length of the distal (patient) end216 of the needle 215 remains extended. The needle 215 is secured byepoxy or adhesive in the distal end of the hub 220 within the hubprotrusion 218.

The pen needle removal device, or cap, 221, as shown in FIGS. 10-17,includes a body 223 having first and second openings 222 and 224disposed at opposite ends thereof. The drug delivery device 211 isinserted through the second opening and the ejector 251 is insertedthrough the first opening 222. A flexible clip 226 is connected to thebody 223 of the cap 221 to facilitate carrying the drug delivery device211 by the user. An inwardly extending retaining ring 229 is disposed onan inner surface 228 of the body 223, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 13-15.The retaining ring 229 preferably extends around an entire innercircumference of the cap body 223. A cavity 241 within the cap 221 isdefined by the body 223 of the cap.

The ejector 251 has a base 253 from which a wall 255 extends outwardly,as shown in FIGS. 11-15. A tab 257 extends outwardly from the wall 255proximate the base 253. The tab 257, which preferably extends around theentire circumference of the wall 255, engages an end 227 of the cap 221,as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, to limit movement of the ejector 251 intothe cap 221.

The ejector 251 can have a plurality of flexible fingers 271 disposedproximate an end 256 of the ejector wall 255, as shown in FIGS. 16 and17. A tab 273 extends outwardly from each of the flexible fingers 271.Each tab 273 has a flat surface 274 that abuts an end 276 of a recess275 formed in an inner surface 228 of the cap 221. The flexible fingers271 flex inwardly to allow insertion of the ejector 251 into the cap221. The engagement of the flat surface 274 of the flexible finger tab271 with the end 276 of the recess 275 in the cap body 223 preventscomplete withdrawal of the ejector 251 from the cap 221.

The ejector 251 is movable between first and second positions. In afirst position, as shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 15, the ejector 251 ispushed into the cap body 223 such that the ejector tab 257 abuts the end227 of the cap 221. As shown in FIG. 11, the cap wall 255 is receivedbetween the retaining ring 229 and the threaded portion of the lowerhousing 217. The end 256 of the ejector 251 also abuts the retainingring 229. When the ejector is in the first position, it is an indicationto the user that a pen needle is not connected to the drug deliverydevice 211.

In the second position, the ejector 251 is partially withdrawn from thecap body 223, as shown in FIGS. 12-14. The ejector 251 being in thesecond position is an indication to the user that a pen needle 213 isconnected to the drug delivery device 211. The insertion of the penneedle 213 causes the base 212 of the hub 220 to partially push theejector 251 out of the cap 221. Movement of the ejector 221 out of thecap 251 is limited by engagement of the flat surface 274 of the flexiblefinger tab 273 with the end 276 of the recess 275 in the cap body 223.

When a drug delivery device 211 with a pen needle 213 attached theretois inserted in the cavity 241 of the cap 221, a base surface 212 of thehub 220 engages the end 256 of the ejector wall 255 and moves theejector from the first position (FIG. 11) to the second position (FIG.12). The drug delivery device 211 is further inserted in the cap 221until an interference fit is created between the outer surface of thehub wall 214 and the retaining ring 229, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14,thereby preventing further insertion of the drug delivery device. Thedrug delivery device 211 can then be rotated and unthreaded from the penneedle 213 such that the pen needle is securely retained in the cap 221,as shown in FIG. 14. Friction between the retaining ring 229 and the penneedle hub 220 prevents the pen needle from rotating and being removedwith the drug delivery device 211. The patient end 216 of the needle 215is covered by the ejector 251, thereby preventing accidental needlesticks. The user can carry the cap 221 with the pen needle 213 securelyretained therein until the pen needle can be properly disposed of, suchas in a sharps container.

Alternatively, the retaining ring 229 can be formed as a plurality ofribs around the inner surface of the cap 221 that engage the recesses188 (FIG. 5) in the pen needle hub 220. When the drug delivery device211 is rotated, the retaining ring ribs 229 engage the recesses in thepen needle hub 220, thereby preventing the pen needle 213 from rotatingwith the drug delivery device. Accordingly, the pen needle 213 issecurely retained in the cap 221.

When the pen needle 213 is to be ejected from the cap 221, the userpushes the base 253 of the ejector 251 inwardly in a directionsubstantially opposite to the insertion direction of the drug deliverydevice 211, as shown in FIG. 15. The ejector 251 is moved in a directionsubstantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the needle 215. The end256 of the ejector wall 255 engages the base surface 212 of the hub 120,thereby overcoming the interference fit between the hub 220 and theretaining ring 229 of the cap 221 such that the pen needle 213 can beproperly disposed of. The ejector tab 257 abuts the end 227 of the cap221, thereby limiting insertion of the ejector 251 into the cap.

The ejector cavity 261, which is defined by the base 253 and the wall255, can accommodate an inner shield 59 (FIG. 2) disposed on the hubprotrusion 218. To perform an injection, the user removes the cap 221from the drug delivery device 211, thereby providing access to the penneedle 215. Pulling the cap overcomes the interference fit between thepen needle hub 220 and the retaining ring 229, such that the pen needlehub remains connected to the drug delivery device 211. Alternatively,the retaining ring ribs 229 do not engage the walls of the pen needlehub 220 so that the drug delivery device can be pulled outwardly fromthe cap 221 with the pen needle 213 connected to the drug deliverydevice. The inner shield 59 is then removed from the pen needle hub 220so that the injection can be made. The used pen needle is thenreinserted into the cap 221, as described above, such that the ejector251 moves to the second position, as shown in FIG. 12, therebyindicating the presence of a pen needle. The used pen needle can then beproperly disposed of as described above.

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and arenot to be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. Thedescription of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention isintended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the presentinvention. Various modifications, alternatives and variations will beapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and are intended to fallwithin the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims andtheir equivalents.

1. A removal device for removing and disposing of a pen needleconnectable to a drug delivery device, comprising: a body having acavity for receiving the pen needle of the drug delivery device suchthat a patient end of a needle of the pen needle is covered by saidbody; and an ejector movably connected to said body for engaging thereceived pen needle and selectively ejecting the engaged pen needle fromsaid body.
 2. The removal device according to claim 1, wherein saidcavity has a diameter smaller than a diameter of a hub of the pen needleto create an interference fit with the received pen needle.
 3. Theremoval device according to claim 2, wherein an end of said ejectorengages the hub of the pen needle such that movement of said ejectormoves the pen needle out of said cavity.
 4. The removal device accordingto claim 1, wherein the needle of the received pen needle is disposedwithin said ejector.
 5. The removal device according to claim 1, whereinsaid body is formed separately from the drug delivery device.
 6. Theremoval device according to claim 1, wherein said body has a base toallow said removal device to sit on a planar surface.
 7. The removaldevice according to claim 1, wherein the pen needle is retained withinsaid body when the drug delivery device is unthreaded from said body. 8.The removal device according to claim 1, wherein said ejector is pushedinto said body to eject the pen needle therefrom.
 9. The removal deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said body comprises a cap removablyconnectable to the drug delivery device.
 10. The removal deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein a plurality of inwardly extending ribs areformed on said body to engage recesses formed in a hub of the penneedle.
 11. The removal device according to claim 9, wherein saidejector is in a withdrawn position when said cap is connected to thedrug delivery device to which the pen needle is connected.
 12. Theremoval device according to claim 11, wherein said cap is removable fromthe drug delivery device with the pen needle retained within said cap.13. The removal device according to claim 12, wherein said ejector ispushed into said cap to eject the pen needle therefrom.
 14. The removaldevice according to claim 10, wherein said ejector is in an insertedposition when said cap is connected to the drug delivery device to whichthe pen needle is not connected.
 15. The pen needle according to claim1, wherein said ejector moves in a direction substantially parallel to alongitudinal axis of the needle of the pen needle.
 16. The pen needleaccording to claim 10, wherein a tab extending outwardly from saidejector limits movement of said ejector into said cap.
 17. A method ofremoving a pen needle from a drug delivery device, comprising the stepsof: inserting the pen needle of the drug delivery device in a cavity ofa body of a removal device such that a patient end of a needle of thepen needle is covered by the body; engaging the received pen needle withan ejector movably connected to the body; removing the drug delivery penfrom the body of the removal device such that the engaged pen needle isretained by the body; and ejecting the engaged pen needle from the bodywith the ejector.
 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein theremoval device comprises a cap for the drug delivery device.
 19. Themethod according to claim 17, wherein the removal device is formedseparately from the drug delivery device.
 20. The method according toclaim 17, further comprising positioning the removal device on a planarsurface prior to inserting the pen needle therein.